Payson council discusses 2-hour parking on Main Street to increase turnover, takes no immediate action

Payson City Councilors on Sept. 17 discussed a proposal to add two-hour on-street parking restrictions on Main Street and Utah Avenue aimed at increasing turnover for businesses and discouraging long-term parking by employees and apartment tenants.

Councilor Brett Christianson said the curb spaces are "kind of coveted and should be used as such," and described seeing employees park in those spaces for eight-hour shifts. He suggested two-hour limits around the intersections of Utah Avenue and Main Street to keep prime stalls available for customers.

City staff told the council that creating on-street time limits requires ordinance language and an administrative citation process. Staff noted the issue is more complex than simply placing signs and discussed enforcement options such as tire chalking and police follow-up to verify overstays. Councilors and staff also discussed an existing parking-permit program for apartments that the city has not yet implemented because related parking-lot work was unfinished.

Questions from councilors and members of the public addressed exceptions and practical enforcement: a resident asked whether an on-street time limit would exempt vehicles displaying disabled-person placards; staff said those on-street spaces did not meet required standards for marked accessible stalls and that the council would need to address disability exemptions in any ordinance. Chief and staff highlighted winter snow-removal complications and said the city already restricts overnight parking in regulated lots unless a permit is issued.

Council members asked staff to draft an ordinance framework and enforcement plan and return with options. No vote was taken on the proposal at the Sept. 17 meeting.

Council discussion also touched on complementary strategies, including asking the Chamber of Commerce to encourage business owners to direct employees to off-street lots and adjusting permit implementation for apartment tenants.

The council will review a staff-prepared ordinance and enforcement proposal at a future meeting before making any regulatory changes.